In theory there's no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.
this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2025
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.
Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:
- Both “200” and “160” are 2 minutes in microwave math
- When you’re a kid, you don’t realize you’re also watching your mom and dad grow up.
- More dreams have been destroyed by alarm clocks than anything else
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So say we all.
SO SAY WE ALL!
Consensus is the instinctive collective response of the mind to the world whereas truth is its regimented output. This is most obvious in the evolution of language, the truth in this instance is things like definitions, syntax and grammar but this is all after the event and looking back explanation. The real growth of language is from consensus. The definition of the word gay in original form by etymology was carefree and happy which is it's truth but by consensus of usage it was altered to mean homosexuality, which is an entirely separate definition. The consensus idea very easily overran that of truth and became what is real.
So say we all!
Argumentum ad populum, the fallacy that if most people agree, they must be correct.
We're tribal animals. Going against the group is usually a bad survival tactic - but just because you echo the beliefs of those around you doesn't mean they're right. Very few of history's great philosophers held popular beliefs, yet we still remember their names. Nobody remembers the conformists.
The opposite is also dangerous, i.e. believing reflexively in heterodoxies and conspiracy theories. But your point stands.
"Millions of flies can't be wrong!"
The flies aren't wrong. Eating shit is good FOR THEM but it would not be good for humans
That raises the question of if you're another fly or another human.
Speak for yourself
Yeah, you are right. Too many people in the sciences believe this as well. Science is about repeatability and falsifiable hypothesis...
Yes but it's worth pointing out that peer review is also a form of consensus-building. It's not a perfect process, but it's pretty workable if everyone's pulling in the same direction.
Isn’t it the case that “consensus” in the sciences is just a shorthand for “we agree that this is most likely to be true”?
If I were conversing with a scientist and I asked about possibility x, and they disagreed with it for the reason that “the consensus is…”, I would assume that they are not saying possibility x is wrong, but rather that they would need really good evidence to agree that x is correct.